Good scientists are careful not to overplay the significance of their own research, let alone the research of others. So when leading lights in the field speak of possible “turning points” and “history”, it is worth sitting up and paying attention.

Three scientists have shared this year's Nobel Prize in chemistry. Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel won the award for laying the foundation for computer models used to understand and predict chemical processes.

The vaccine known as "RTS,S", made by GlaxoSmithKline, was the first "candidate" vaccine against malaria and was initially developed as long ago as 1987. This fact alone indicates just how difficult and tortuous it is to manufacture a safe, reliable and effective vaccine against the malaria parasite.